If you already have an existing product, how would you go about finding ways to improve it? One way would be to conduct a focus group where you get a group of maybe ten customers or even people that did not purchase your product, and ask questions. What did they like if they purchased, and if they did not purchase, what caused them to hesitate? Is there something that could be done to improve the product in their eyes? Did the copy fully explain what the product does for them and how it will be valuable to their situation? Asking for suggestions and comments will often prove to be invaluable marketing advice and sometimes can come as a surprise.

A meeting can be over a conference line or it can also be a netmeeting online. Whichever feels most comfortable to your participants would be ideal. 

The objective of the session is to not become too long, say maybe two hours and have the participants brainstorm the product. It is very desirable that the participants do not know that you are the owner of the product so that they feel free to give ideas and opinions without any retribution.

The moderator should be able to get people to feel uninhibited by asking questions of the group. What hot buttons are there that can be investigated? Questions regarding the product’s method of use or lack of creativity can spur direct comments from the participants that will become very valuable.

The idea is not for the participants to be negative or destructive, but to try to build on or improve the product being presented.

The ideal time to have this brainstorming session is when the product is new and not fully developed. The session might present new ideas that can be incorporated and used which will only help the marketing and sale of the product.

The brainstorming group participants will surely feel their comments and suggestions are welcome and that they have a good feel for what the product is trying to present. Maybe advising them that they will get a free product when the item is finished, will make them want to provide clear and purposeful ideas. Anything that makes the new product more useful and more direct on the subject matter, will be welcomed.

Any ideas from potential users must be considered so that the new product will be totally successful. Have fun with your brainstorming group and do not become discouraged if some comments do not seem to be helpful. Taking the participant’s comments and improving the product or service is the goal.

Work At Home Resources

Not just a Hotel

Concierge services are not often thought of as a work at home choice but rather more for the finer hotels to offer. They usually greet the guests as they come and go and offer them the advice on where to eat or what places to visit. You can take this same idea and use it to your advantage and make a good living with it. You need to decide what type of concierge service to offer and then go all out offering it to those whom you know.

House-sitting
Many individuals go on yearly vacations and do not like to leave their house unoccupied for fear of being robbed or vandalized while they are gone. Concierge house sitters stay with the home while the owners are away and provide a safe and secure feeling for the owners that someone is there to watch over things. Most thieves will avoid houses that have an occupant in them and this is the main idea behind this type of work at home service.

Pet Sitting Services

This is the same idea as the house sitting except the work at home concept here is to take care of the pets for the owners while they are away on vacation or at work during the day. You can choose how many animals you prefer to take at a time and how much to charge. Those pet owners who love their pets will pay more than you think to have them taken care of and attend to during the time they are away. Fees charged need to be less than those of the local boarding kennels and you can advertise through bulletin boards at the local vet’s offices. You can choose to watch them at your own home or at their home. If you have more than one animal from different owners, your home would be best and the animals would feel better about it.

Work for the Other Businesses in the Area

The popularity of the concierge services is becoming more popular and now has moved into a work at home opportunity even the smaller businesses are using. You can begin to take on this role by simply making a call to the local businesses in your area and offering to help them with their staff needs in the way of convenience. It might be picking lunch up everyday for the employees or making appointments for them when they are working. You could also offer to pick up their dry cleaning or run errands for them during business hours.

Work At Home Resources

Home Offices

Renovate your garage, family room or even a large closet into your own office space. Create a corner in the house just for your work. Have a designated area for files, your computer and other business essentials. Stay organized so you know where everything is and don’t have to waste time looking for it. Scattering your work around the house makes it difficult to run a successful enterprise no matter how large or small.

Go Mobile 

Sometimes occurrences at home make it impossible to focus on the business at hand. Have a laptop and cell phone ready so you can work at your favorite park, coffee shop or library. If peace and quiet are impossible to attain in one spot, take your work elsewhere for awhile. Often the change of scenery helps you regain focus so you can get back to business more effectively.

Virtual Offices

Virtual offices provide a designated business address, telephone number and fax number along with an answering service and receptionist. For a monthly fee, you can set up a virtual office in almost any major city in the world. Virtual offices also create a presence in a metropolitan area and give your business image a boost. If you need a professional space to meet with clients, most virtual offices have conference rooms available on short notice. Having a virtual office also makes it easier to work at home. You have someone else receiving packages, telephone calls, faxes and mail so you can work without interruption. A virtual office also maintains the privacy of your home address and phone number.

Managed Offices

Managed offices are run by a management company that rents out rooms and suites to various businesses. Everyone has a shared receptionist, answering service, security and common areas such as lobbies, restrooms and conference rooms. You can rent an impressive single office or suite in a local business area without a long term lease or buying office space. This gives businesses more freedom to expand, downsize and relocate.

Outsourcing

As businesses expand, they often seek virtual offices and managed offices for the access to receptionists and clerical staff. Another option for small enterprises is outsourcing. Use a freelancer to handle writing, research and public relations as you work on other aspects of your business. Hire a virtual assistant to manage appointments, telephone calls and client data. Get help to make your business more profitable and productive.

Start your own business, gain credibility and build profits by customizing your offices to suit your unique needs. Whether you want to quit your day job or supplement your current income, you can create your own perfect office anywhere and anytime.

Work At Home Resources